Activities and consultations 2008
SSAC Flexible New Deal November 2008
Short run consultation on Flexible New Deal which is to be the second year of a claim for Jobseeker's Allowance, managed by contracted-out employment services. The Government's Social Security Advisory Committee has reservations about FND and particularly asked for feedback on the following: mandatory 'Back to Work Sessions'; sanctions; and the contracting-out arrangements.
DCSF Statutory Guidance on Children at Risk of Not Receiving Suitable Education October 2008
This consultation attracted over a thousand responses with hundreds from home educators. Education Otherwise submitted a number of documents as follows:
Response to online questionnaire
Cover letter accompanying consultation documents sent to DCSF
Overview of EO consultation response
Copy of letter about "fourfold foundation" of rights and responsibilities/ Lord Adonis to Lord Judd
EO suggestions for updating the draft guidance
Report of consultation meeting EO/DCSF August 2008
Correspondence between EO and the Forced Marriage Unit, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Correspondence between MP and Education Otherwise
DWP No One Written Off October 2008
This consultation from the Department of Work and Pensions set out Government proposals ultimately to scrap Income Support and replace with a single over-arching benefit. You can read more from the DWP here. These plans were subsequently amplified in the Gregg Report.
DCSF: Fair Play - July 2008
This consultation asked for comments on the play strategy commitment in the Government's 10 Year Children's Plan. The EO response echoed contributions previously made to the Government's Children's Plan and to the 2007 consultations Staying Safe and Entitlement to Positive Leisure Activities.
Charities Commission: Public Benefit Fee Paying - July 2008
Consultation on the activities of charities which charge a fee for their services. EO responded to both CC consultations to highlight the ongoing dialogue with the Independent Schools Council over access to examination centres for home educated private candidates.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)/DCSF Review - July 2008
This consultation focused on the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people and the work of CAMHS and other agencies. The EO response questioned the value judgements implicit in "school phobia" and "school refusal".
DCSF: Enabling the System to Deliver (14-19 reform) - June 2008
This consultation asked for views on the administration of 14+ funding and commissioning services following the anticipated winding-up of the Learning and Skills Council and the transfer of responsibilities to local authorities. The EO response raised a number of questions about the implications for home educators. EO Government Policy Group also attended a regional consultation event organised jointly by DCSF/DIUS.
DCSF: Promoting Achievement, Valuing Success, strategy 14-19 qualifications - June 2008
This consultation outlined the new offer of Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas and the Government's new accreditation scheme. Unsurprisingly the EO response asked how home educated private candidates would fit into these plans.
DCSF: Statutory Guidance to section 10 of the 2004 Children Act(duty to co-operate) - June 2008
This consultation ostensibly related to section 10 but appeared to bring major elements of the Government's Children's Plan within the scope of ambitious statutory guidance. The EO response drew attention to this anomaly.
Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC): Lone Parent Social Security Amendments - June 2008
This short-run consultation asked for comments on the draft regulations intended to move lone parents from Income Support to Jobseeker's Allowance. The EO response was highly critical of the proposed restructuring of the benefit system and drew particular attention to the serious implications for lone parents who are home educating and for lone parents who have children with disabilities and special educational needs. As part of the consultation process EO had discussions with other stakeholders such as One Parent Families and also had a meeting with the Head of the Parent Employment Unit at DWP .
DCSF: Aiming High for Disabled Children - EO Disability Group - March 2008
This consultation asked for comments on the Government's plans for improving services to disabled children and their families. The EO response focused on the need to remember home educated children and young people in these plans and to understand the families' needs and priorities.
DoH: Valuing People Now - Disability Group - March 2008
This consultation covered the transition to adult services for young people with difficulties and disabilities. The EO response queried whether the families of home educated young people would receive sufficient information about services if they were outside the system and offered [ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ] the Disability Group as a point of contact.
MoJ and Information Commissioner's Office (ICO): Data Sharing Review - February 2008
This consultation looked into issues of data security following the theft of Child Benefit records and other data leaks. The EO response focused on the security implications of the national children's database to be known as ContactPoint.
DIUS Innovation Nation February 2008
This consultation asked for ideas on how to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. The EO response exhorted Government to think outside the box and to look at natural innovators such as those in the home education community.
DCSF: Bercow Speech and Language Review - Disability Group - January 2008
MP John Bercow called for information on the provision of speech and language therapy services. In common with many other responses, EO described a postcode lottery with additional problems for members accessing services outside the school system. As part of this review process EO also sent a delegate to the Westminster Forum Seminar.
| File | Description | File size |
|---|---|---|
 CMEoverviewsept7th08.pdf | EO overview draft revised statutory guidance CME | 82 Kb |
| appendix1datadefinitionsCME.pdf | Data definitions CME | 19 Kb |
| alisondurbinmeeting.pdf | Minutes of meeting between EO/DWP April 2008 | 65 Kb |
| NoOneWrittenOffDWPconsultationresponseOct08DG.pdf | No One Written Off DWP consultation October 2008: response from EO disability group | 105 Kb |
| NoOneWrittenOffDWPconsultationresponseOct08GPG.pdf | No One Written Off DWP consultation October 2008: respnse from EO GPG | 17 Kb |
| additionalevidence_eocmeresponse08.pdf | Children at Risk of Not Receiving Suitable Education DCSF consultation October 2008: correspondence between MP and EO | 10 Kb |
| additionalevidenceFMU_eocmeresponse08.pdf | Children at Risk of Not Receiving Suitable Education DCSF consultation October 2008 : correspondence between EO and the Forced Marriage Unit | 53 Kb |
| CMEreportIDDCSF29thAugust08meeting.pdf | Children at Risk of Not Receiving Suitable Education DCSF consultation October 2008 : report of consultation meeting EO/DCSF Aug. 2008 | 69 Kb |
| EOamendedCMEdraft0ct08.pdf | Children at Risk of Not Receiving Suitable Education DCSF consultation October 2008 : EO suggestions for updating draft guidance | 115 Kb |
| Adonis_Judd_Oct13_2006_copiable.pdf | Children at Risk of Not Receiving Suitable Education DCSF consultation October 2008 : copy of letter from Lord Adonis to Lord Judd | 169 Kb |
| EOoverviewsuitableeducation.pdf | Children at Risk of Not Receiving Suitable Education DCSF consultation October 2008, EO overview of 'suitable education' | 64 Kb |
| eoonlineresponse990suitableeducation.pdf | Children at Risk of Not Receiving Suitable Education DCSF consultation October 2008, response to online questionnaire | 29 Kb |
| flexnewdealssac1108.pdf | Flexible New Deal SSAC consultation November 2008 | 94 Kb |